Disclaimer: I get so tired of these. I don't own em, I never will own em.
Notes: Sequel to "Switched".
Part 1
"Angel." I sighed, contented.
"Hmm?" he murmured, stroking my hair pleasantly.
"Do you want to go tell Willow that we're us again?"
"Nah. I'm good right here."
"Me too." I replied, settling back in his arms. We were sitting under a huge tree. I was leaning against Angel comfortably. For now. I knew that soon I would want to kiss him again. But right then I was happy just lying in his arms.
We lay in peaceful silence for a little while until Angel broke it with, "Buffy? Are you sure?"
I looked at him, confused. "Sure about what?"
"Us. Do you really want me here? You're not going to regret your choice in a few years?"
"Never. I never will."
"Okay. I was just wonder-" he began, but stopped to wince painfully.
"What is it?" I asked, concerned. A second later I felt the pain too.
"Buffy. . ." he moaned.
"Angel. . ." I responded. "We have to get to the-" I tried to say, but I passed out before I could finish.
Part 2
I opened my eyes warily. I'd been awake for some time, but pretended to still be unconscious until I had stopped hearing people moving around. I was chained to a wall. I tried to break the chains, but they were too strong.
The first thing I saw was Buffy. She was also chained, but to the wall opposite me. We appeared to be in a dungeon of some kind. She was still sleeping, and she looked very peaceful. I hated to wake her up, but I had to. We had to get out of here.
"Buffy!" I whispered sharply. "Buffy!"
She stirred and moaned softly. Opening one eye and than the other, she asked groggily, "Angel? What are we doing here? Where are we?"
"I don't know. We're in some kind of prison. Can you break your chains?"
She struggled a minute, and finally said, "No. They're too strong."
"Damn." I thought a minute, then said, "I can at least find out where we are." I twisted my head around to see through the bars behind me. I gulped nervously at what I saw. "Buffy." I croaked.
"What?"
"It's completely dark outside. But I don't smell any sign of life or vegetation. I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto."
She stared at me in horror.
Part 3
I blinked at Angel in amazement. "Tell me one time."
He sighed and said for the third time, "Wherever we are, it's not Sunnydale."
"Do you think this has something to do with that pain we felt right before we blacked out?"
"Maybe. It might."
"Oh, thanks, that really helps, Angel." I said sarcastically.
"Give me a break here, Buffy! I know as much as you do which is absolutely nothing."
I softened at his harsh tone, and said softly, "I'm sorry, Angel. I'm just scared."
"It'll be alright, Buffy. We'll get out of here."
Even though he wasn't touching me, I could feel his hand stroking my cheek, calming me down. I closed my eyes, and let him caress me. It felt so real that I said aloud, "That feels really good, Angel."
I jerked awake when I remembered that Angel was chained, unable to move. I stared at him in confusion.
"Angel, did you stroke my cheek?"
He stared at me in open surprise. "I thought about it. Did you feel me?"
"Yeah. I felt you. What does that mean?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe when we were switched back, we weren't completely separated from each other. I think we've been bond together somehow."
"So that's why I felt your hand when it really wasn't there?"
He shrugged. "I guess."
"Weird."
I concentrated on kissing Angel, stroking his hair, sliding my tongue inside his mouth.
"Feel that?" I asked, checking for his reaction.
"Yes. Don't stop." he gasped.
We went back to "making out", but of course we weren't really. But at the same time we were. I was very confused. Whatever it was we were doing, we stopped abruptly when someone turned the doorknob and entered the dungeon.
"Ah, the vampire with a soul and the Vampire Slayer." a figure in a black cloak which shrouded his face said mysteriously. "Welcome to the Museum. You will make charming additions to my little collection. You recently had your bodies switched, yes?"
"Yes." I answered, confused. "How did you know that?"
"Because it was I who made that possible." he said. "It was necessary for you to be out of your bodies for 24 hours so that I could make some. . ." he trailed off, pondering what to say. "preparations."
"What preparations?" Angel growled. "Who are you? What are we doing here?"
"All will be answered in good time." he replied. "I'm sorry about the chains. I was unsure how you would react to your situation."
"You can bet we're gonna give you Hell about it!" I snarled. "Okay, fine. Answer one question. Why can we touch without touching?"
"That is a temporary side effect of the switching back of your bodies. It will go away in time." he replied primly.
"So that wish that Willow made. . ." I pondered.
"Oh, she did make a wish. But it ordinarily would have no power unless I intervened." he said primly. He stepped to me and curled out his long slimy tongue to lick my face. I recoiled in disgust. Angel thrashed at the chains in protest.
"Oh, yes." the being said. "You, Slayer, will be the prize possession of the exhibit."
"My name. . ." I snarled angrily, twisting the chains again so that they finally broke, "is Buffy!"
I leaped up and kicked the thing in the groin. He doubled over in protest. Angel broke his chains too and punched the figure to the ground. He growled, vamp face on.
"Come on." I said urgently. "We have to get out of here."
I opened the door that the person had left unlocked and got out of the dungeon, Angel following me.
"Which way do we-" I started to say, but stopped when I saw our surroundings.
There were thousands and thousands of cages lined against the walls. Inside them were creatures of all colors and varieties. Vampires, incubus, sucubus, you name it, it was there. But one vampire in particular looked familar. I walked closer to him.
"You run a zoo." Angel said matter-of-factly.
"I prefer to give it the kinder term of a museum." He laughed evilly. "Don't try to escape. You won't make it."
"Believe me, you won't." Spike said dully. "I've tried."
"Please!" I scoffed. "You think we can't get out of here. You've never met a Vampire Slayer, have you?"
"No, actually I haven't." he replied. "But I've heard they're very-"
I lunged for his throat. He easily dodged my blows. Angel tried to take him down, but was as unsuccessful as I was. The Collector grabbed my throat and held me off my feet, squeezing.
"Angel." I gasped. "Help."
Angel jumped onto the Collector's shoulders, riding him like a cowboy riding an angry bronco. "Let her go." he growled roughly. "Let her go now or I break your neck."
"I could kill her right now, and you wouldn't be able to stop me."
"Or how about-" Angel broke off, and twisted his legs on the Collector's head, breaking his neck. "I kill you." he said. He jumped off the Collector's corpse, making the Collector- and me- fall to the ground.
I reached up with both my hands, and pulled with all my strength to free my throat. The dead hand of the Collector finally gave and for a second I just lay on the ground rubbing my throat until the stars cleared out of my vision.
Angel hurried to my side, and asked quickly, "All right?"
"Never been better." I wheezed. "Help me up." He pulled me to my feet and I stood swaying, still a little dizzy.
"Okay." I said in a minute once I had regained my balance. "I'm good. What are we going to do about Spike?"
"Leave him." Angel said promptly. "He'll kill us in a second."
"He's right about that." Spike chirped from his cell. "I'd suck you dry, Slayer, than give the loser poof over there a tan."
"How about this?" I asked. "We make a deal. We let you out, you help us get out of here."
"And. . ." I said warningly as he looked at my neck hungrily. "Don't bite. We'll find you some blood. Why don't you suck him dry?" I asked, pointing to the Collector.
Spike made a sound of disgust. "No thanks. Bet he'd taste horrible. But I can't do any of that can I? At least not till one of you bloody poofs lets me out of this cell."
I sighed impatiently and kicked Spike's cage open. He crawled out, stretching gratefully. "Come on out. Angel, see if you can find a stake." "Sure." he replied.
He rummaged through the Collector's clothes and at length, he pulled out a long stake. "This will work." he said, fingering it. A moment later he let go with a cry of pain, dropping it instantly.
"What is it?" I asked, coming to him.
"Holy water." he moaned. "The stake's been doused with holy water."
"Serves you right. Loser." Spike cut in.
"Shut up!" I yelled. "I've had enough of your insults! We've set you free, the least you can do is show your gratitude by shutting that huge gaping hole known as your mouth!"
He stopped talking, but he was still smirking. "I knew you two would get back together." he said smugly. "Didn't I tell you? How long did it take for you to go crawling back to your Slayer, Angel? A week? A day? Did ya find some way to fix the curse so she opens her legs whenever she feels like it with no badass popping out to make-"
"Shut up!" I yelled, viciously punching him. "Just shut up! Don't mention me, or Angel, or our relationship ever again! Do you hear me?" I picked him up off the floor, and shook him by the throat. "Do you?" I repeated loudly.
"Touchy, touchy. Yeah, I hear you."
"Good." I answered coldly, dropping him. "Eat something then we'll get out of this hellhole."
Part 4
I had to admire her strength. I knew that Spike's words had cut her very deeply, rehashing some painful memories, but she continued as though nothing had happened. She was the leader of our little group, the one who pretended to know the way out. We had walked for about half an hour when we were stopped by one of the Collector's minions. He was full demon and seemed to be the caretaker of the . . . "animals".
"What are you doing out of your cages?" he asked angrily.
"Escaping." I answered.
More of the minions came out and attacked.
(INSERT REALLY COOL FIGHT MUSIC)
I kicked the caretaker guy over, and launched into fight mode. I went on autopilot, ignoring everything but the bloodlust. I jabbed and uppercutted, kicked and headbutted. When I had taken out all the things attacking me, which had been about 10, I leaped to where Buffy and Spike were fighting. Together we dispatched of all the minions until there was only the caretaker left. Spike was about to break his neck when I yelled, "Wait! We need to know where exactly we are!"
The guy chuckled bitterly. "You don't already know? He didn't tell you. Oh, this is too good."
"Where are we?" I growled.
"I believe you don't want to know where, but when." he answered.
"When?" Buffy echoed. "What are you saying?"
"You're in an alternate dimension. Time has no meaning here. But I can tell you one thing. You're not in the 20th century anymore."
"Then when the hell are we?" Spike asked.
"I'm not exactly sure. Every month time changes. Right now we're somewhere in the 17th century."
"So you're saying we have no way of knowing when we'd end up?" Buffy asked angrily.
"Yes, that's pretty much the size of it. Didn't the Collector tell you that you would never be able to escape? Now you know why."
"Why, you son of a-" Spike began.
"Spike!" I yelled warningly. "We'll handle it."
I grabbed the caretaker by the neck and squeezed.
"How do we get out?" I asked sharply.
"Haven't you been listening, vampire with a soul? You can't get out. You don't know where you'd end up."
"You're lying. There's got to be another way. How do we get out? Tell me, or I kill you."
"I'd rather die than tell you!"
"Spike, Buffy, gimme a hand with this creep. Maybe 3 can persuade better than one."
They came to us. I dropped the caretaker to the floor. Buffy and Spike stood on either side of him, I in front of him.
"What are you going to do, Angel?" Buffy asked.
"I'm thinking something along the lines of-" I paused to let my game face surface. I stared at the demon with an evil glare in my now yellow eyes. "Extensive torture."
"Angel, uh are you okay?" Buffy asked, staring at me worriedly.
"Don't worry about it, Slayer. He's letting the demon come out for a bit. This oughta be interesting."
"So right now he's Angelus?"
Spike nodded. "Pretty much. His soul is controlling the demon, but the demon has freedom to do whatever he wants to him. Only thing I liked about Angelus was his inventive ways to torture."
Buffy stared in him in mounting dismay.
I ignored both of them, and concentrated on the demon.
"I'll think I'll start with the fingers." I said cruelly. "That's always been my favorite."
I swiftly broke his index finger. He screamed a long terrified scream that echoed throughout the halls. I grinned. I was just getting started. Things were about to get very interesting . . .
Part 5
After Angel- I mean, Angelus- had beaten the crap out of the demon so that he finally told us how to get out at the right time, he didn't want to stop.
I finally had to scream his name. "Angel!" I yelled. "Stop! You're killing him!"
He ignored me.
I swiftly punched him, trying to bring him to his senses. He lay on the ground, panting, obviously trying to regain control. At last he got to his feet, staring at me in his human face.
"B- Buffy?" he asked, remorse evident on his face as he looked at the demon moaning on the ground. "What did I-"
I cut him off, hugging him tearfully. "Angel." I sobbed gratefully. "Angel." He hugged me reluctantly at first then with more enthusiasm as he started to cry as well.
We were cut short in our little reunion by Spike gagging. We broke apart, kissing tenderly before we completely let go of each other. "Huh. Did I do that?" he asked, looking down at the demon.
"Uh-huh."
"Neat. Good to know I haven't lost my touch." He cast one last look at the demon before following us out of the hall. Right into about 10 passages all going different directions.
"Uh, which way do we go?" Angel asked, confused.
"The demon said the passage was marked by a blue stone." I said thoughtfully. I looked around, then focused on a something glittering near one of the tunnels. "There!" she yelled, pointing.
We walked through the passage with the blue stone.
Angel tapped my shoulder and asked, "Buffy, where are we going?"
"You don't remember? You're the one who beat it out of that demon."
"No, I don't. When Angelus takes the reins, I forget everything. Usually it comes back to me later, but I . . . I don't want to know what I did to that demon."
I sighed a little impatiently. I could sympathize. I didn't want to tell Angel about what he done to the demon either. "Okay, fine. The demon told us that we had to go through this passage until we got to some throne room. Then there'd be a control panel where you could enter what year and location you wanted to be sent. A vortex will open and we can go through. But there's a catch."
"The portal will only be open for 30 seconds. So we'd have to haul ass and get through it quickly." Spike broke in.
"Lovely." Angel said dryly. He shrugged and said, "Thanks for the info."
I nodded and continued on, ignoring him. Spike soon took the lead when I fell behind. Though I was walking right beside Angel, I avoided looking at him. I know he was wondering what was going on because he grabbed my wrist and forced me to look at him.
"Buffy, what is it?" he asked, confused. "You've turned cold."
"It's nothing, Angel. Nothing at all. We have to go. Spike is leaving us behind."
"We're not going anywhere. Not until you tell me why you're ignoring me."
I blinked at his steel gaze, and looked down, tears starting to run down my cheeks. I looked back up at him bravely. He must have noticed the pain in my eyes, for he cupped his hand and grabbed my chin tightly, pulling me closer to him. We were close enough to kiss.
"Why?" he whispered. "Why?"
I trembled, but not from cold. "It's been a long time since I've seen Angelus in person." I said softly. "Sure, I had him in my head just a few hours ago, but that's different. It hurts when you see him-" I gestured helplessly. "out and about."
"I'm sorry, Buffy, but I had to do it. I had to get him to talk."
"I understand." I whimpered pathetically.
He stroked my cheek tenderly. "No, you don't. The demon's not me, Buffy. We're 2 seperate people. What he did was completely different from who I am. Don't condemn for something someone the exact opposite of me did. Please." he said hoarsely, begging.
I stared at him in amazed surprise. "Say it again." I pleaded.
"What? Say that Angelus and Angel aren't the same?" he asked, confused.
"Yes!"
I eagerly captured his lips with unsupressed passion and love. When I broke away, he asked me, "What was that for?"
"Angel, you've done it." I said, unable to contain my happiness. "You've seperated the demon from the man."
"Whoa, you're right. I guess I have. Thanks for-"
"Come on, you bloody buggers!" Spike yelled angrily in the distance. "I've reached the throne room!" We ran after him, great burdens lifted from both our hearts.
Part 6
I couldn't believe it. I really couldn't. In the process of comforting Buffy, I'd freed myself. The demon and I weren't the same. Everything that he did wasn't my fault. We were just 2 completely different people trapped in the same body. I can't tell you what a relief that was.
Buffy typed in some numbers on the control panel and entered the location she wanted us to be sent. Sunnydale, of course. She let out of a cry of frustration when the enter key was jammed.
I moved to help her get loose, but Spike shoved us both out of the way, yelling, "Out of the way, you stupid blokes!" He violently took a stone club hanging from the wall and slammed it on the enter key. "There." he said with satisfaction when the vortex popped open. "See you in the real world!" he yelled before leaping into the portal. It was shrinking quickly.
"Hurry, Buffy!" I said urgently. "It's closing!"
She kissed me quickly. "I love you." she whispered passionately.
"I love you. But don't worry about me. Just go."
She lept into the portal, casting one last look at me before she disappeared.
I took a not needed deep breath and plunged into the portal in a belly-flop. I barely made it. What I experienced next is almost indescribable. A searing pain ripped through my entire body. I knew that this pain was distinctly for me since neither Buffy nor Spike had shown any discomfort when they'd gone through. Must be something unique especially for vampires with souls. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't a bed of roses. I felt like I was dying. For someone who's already dead feeling like he's dying all over again is some pretty intense agony. I couldn't stand it any longer. I blacked out. I died.
* * *
But just in the figurative sense. I opened my eyes to someone shaking me furiously.
"Wake up!" Buffy hissed. "You damned idiot! Wake up!"
I opened my eyes slowly. I sat up, saying irritably, "What is it?"
"We've got a problem."
Up till then, I'd been staring only at Buffy. Now I turned my head and nearly fainted. Looking back at me, in full game face was myself.
"Oh, shit." I muttered, suddenly aware of another . . . "problem". "Buffy. . ." I gasped.
"What, Angel?"
"My heart- it's- it's-"
"What's wrong?"
"See for yourself!"
I guided her hand to where my heart was. She jerked it away, as though it burned her.
"Angel, your heart, is it really-"
I nodded, still not wanting to believe it. "Beating?" I supplied. "Yeah, I think so."
Part 7
"What happened?" I asked.
"I don't know. But what I do know is that we've got him to deal with." Angel replied, pointing to Angelus, who did nothing but stare into space.
I snorted. "Puh-lease! He's a vegetable! I can take him out just like-" I paused to grab a piece and kill Angelus with it. "that." I finished, watching him crumble into dust. "Okay, that's done." I said, brushing my hands free of any stray dust. "Let's make love."
We happily made love until a big boulder rolled on top of us out of nowhere and killed us both.
Part 8
I walked away from the 2 lovebirds, trying not to gag. They were happily screwing each other's brains out, oblivious to anything else. "Love." I said, disgusted. "What a joke."
I broke a window in some bloke's car, hotwired it, and was soon driving out of Sunnyhell, swearing to myself that I'd never return. Or so I thought. . .
The End??
(maybe not, but you know the author's too sane to bother to write an alt. ending or anything nutty like that)
NO! Not the end! Totally had you fooled, didn't I? Here's the real one.
Part 7
Angelus got to his knees shakily, and grinned at us. "Well, haven't seen you in a long time." he said, laughing sardonically. "How are you two?"
"Just peachy." I said tightly. "But you're gonna die, so I don't think you're doing too good."
"You can't kill me. You don't have the guts." he replied. "I look just like Loverboy." He transformed from his demon visage, which was ten times worse then Angel's had ever been, to his human guise.
I gaped at him in confusion. I looked at Angel, who was pulling himself to his feet. "How can he do that?" I asked. "I thought he was pure demon."
"Isn't that the great thing about mysterious portals?" Angelus chuckled. "I've got some of Loser's soul. Then add his humanity, and your darling Angel is weak as a newborn kitten. Watch!"
With no effort at all, Angelus kicked Angel against as a tree, where he keeled over gasping, coughing blood. I stared at Angel coughing blood then back at Angelus, then to Spike, who was slowly creeping away like the coward he was.
"You hurt my boyfriend." I said sternly.
"So?" he laughed maniacally.
I leapt up and kicked him in the throat. He fell on his back, and stared up at him, still laughing that damned laugh I hated so much.
"Did you actually expect that to hurt?"
He tripped me, making me fall on top of him. "Ooh, haven't been this close to you in a long time, Slayer."
He kissed me brutally, biting my lip. I pulled away, and spat the taste of him out of my mouth.
"Angel, stake!" I yelled, staring down at the ground, spitting out my blood.
No answer.
"Angel!" I repeated, nervous.
I turned my head to glance at him, but was stopped by a punch from Angelus. It stung more than it should; he was stronger than normal. He twisted his body and managed to pin me to the ground, but not before I'd grabbed a piece of wood. He squeezed my wrists tightly, making me cry out in pain and release the makeshift stake.
"You wouldn't have been able to do it anyway." he said smugly, staring at me. "You can't do it. You can't kill me."
He vamped out to bite me, and I gasped in fear. There was no way I was gonna get out of this one. He was just too strong. I closed my eyes tightly. I heard a scuffle and a cloud of dust exploded on top of me. I opened my eyes, coughing.
Angel was standing before me, holding a stake. "Maybe she can't. But I can. You damned bastard. This time when you go to Hell, do me a favor and stay there!" A magenta light flowed and he breathed in heavily. "There." he said, satisfied. "I'm whole again. Are you alright, Buffy?" he asked, offering me a helping hand.
I took it, and he pulled me to my feet. "Are you?" I asked softly, touching his bloody mouth. "You were coughing blood a minute ago."
"I'll be alright. All my soul's been returned, I'll heal soon. But-" he paused and winced as he tried to move his arm, "My arm's broken. And if what Angelus said is true, then it'll take a long time to heal."
I touched his broken arm gently, caressing it. "Hold still." I whispered softly. Ignoring his questions, I took both hands, and neatly popped it back into place.
"Shit!" he yelled. "Buffy, you could have warned me!"
I giggled. "That wouldn't have been as fun." I said, tittering. "It will heal quicker now." I grew serious, and stroked his cheek. "I can't believe you're really alive." I said softly. "This must be a dream."
"Maybe it is. But if it is, you are the most wonderful person in it."
I smiled, and kissed him softly.
Part 8
As Buffy and Angel made out like two rabbits in heat, in an alternate dimension, the Collector watched them. He swore to himself that he would regain his power, and when he did, the Slayer and her mate would burn in Hell. . .
Send feedback to Amber
Back to the Fanfiction Archive